Explanation

The Presiding officers have moved away from using the term “Anti-Racism” and have begun using the term “Racial Reconciliation” as to be a more expanded scope of effort. Our members who visited the New Community Conference confirm that people of color are hungry for this change and expanded scope. Some people have expressed the opinion that anti-racism work includes the work of reconciliation. Looking up the definition of "Anti-Racism" in the Oxford dictionary results in the definition "The policy or practice of opposing racism and promoting racial tolerance." The committee feels that opposition of racism and promotion of tolerance is not quite the same the God's call to reconciliation - returning to a right relationship with God calls our neighbor. The committee’s sense is that the work of anti-racism is advocating for people not to behave in a racist manner whereas the work of reconciliation goes further - seeking to actively change relationships. The end goal of reconciliation is being in a state of reconciliation or reconciled, not just a world where people tolerate one another or behave politely/respectfully. In an effort to accommodate all the perspectives discussed, the Committee proposes adding “& Reconciliation” to the end of the current name. This change would allow us to: 1) keep the positive "tension" identified as being caused by use of the term "Anti-Racism" 2) support the shift from the negative (the term “anti”) to the positive (the term “reconciliation”) that many of us have made and which seems to be bearing fruit 3) support the Presiding Officers’ scope expansion to include reconciliation 4) be viewed as in step with the Presiding Officers 4) leverage the name recognition the Committee has achieved (and, hopefully the momentum) 5) keep the brand recognition of short name for the Committee (ECCAR)